Buckle

ABSTRACT

A BUCKLE COMPRISING A SINGLE CONTINUOUS LENGTH OF MATERIAL PARTICULARLY ADAPTED TO READILY SECURE END-TOEND TWO ENDS OF STRAPPING. THE CONTINUOUS OF MATERIAL IS BENT TO FORM TWO PAIRS OF STRAP-ENGAGING ARMS. THE TWO STRAP-ENGAGING ARMS OF EACH PAIR OF ARMS ARE ARRANGED IN CLOSELY SPACED RELATIONSHIP ALONG EACH OTHER   AND PREFERABLY WITH ONE OF SAID STRAP-ENGAGING ARMS DETERMINING A FREE END EXTENDING AT SLIGHT ANGLE RELATIVE TO THE OTHER ARM OF THE SAME PAIR.

Nov. 30, 1971 T. J. KARASS 3,623,190

BUCKLE Filed Nov. 17, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 i I I I l l x 32 I 72 3 INVEN'I'OR Fig 2 Thomas J. KARASS Nov. 30, 1971 T. J. KARASS 3,623,190

- BUCKLE Filed Nov. 17, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR Thomas J. KARASS q'zw w AGE/Y T United States Patent 01 fice 3,623,190 Patented Nov. 30, 1971 3,623,190 BUCKLE Thomas J. Karass, 411 Kindersley Ave., Mount Royal, Quebec, Canada Filed Nov. 17, 1969, Ser. No. 877,100 Int. Cl. A441) 1.7/

US. Cl. 2474 I 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A buckle comprising a single continuous length of material particularly adapted to readily secure end-toend two ends of strapping. The continuous length of material is bent to form two pairs of strap-engaging arms. The two strap-engaging arms of each pair of arms are arranged in closely spaced relationship along each other and preferably with one of said strap-engaging arms determining a free end extending at a slight angle relative to the other arm of the same pair.

The present invention relates to the art of strapping bales, boxes, bundles and the like and, more particularly, to an improved connector or buckle for securing the ends of a flexible strap which is looped tightly about a bale, box, bundle or the like.

The strapping art may be divided roughly into two categories: strapping compressible bundles or bales while they are held under compression in a press and strapping relatively incompressible boxes, packages and the like. The techniques of strapping in the two categories are generally somewhat dilferent. For example, not always but usually, when strapping a bale which is held under compression in a press, the strap is pre-cut to length before being placed in position about the bale and when the ends of the strap are suitably secured together, the pressure of the press is released, whereupon the strap is subjected to tension and prevents the bale from returning to its uncompressed dimensions. In this instance, the strap is not tensioned prior to securing the ends together, or at most is tensioned only slightly. When the object being strapped is not held in a press, it is customary or normal to withdraw an end of the strap from a large roll and tighten it about the object with the aid of a tensioning or stretching tool before securing the overlapping portions of the strap together and cutting the length of strap being used from that portion remaining on the roll. In this latter instance, it is the usual practice to secure the strap in position by means of a metal sleeve which is crimped about the overlapping portions thereof, Whereas in the balin'g press operation the strap ends are normally held by some form of buckle.

In addition to the two above-mentioned categories or procedure, there are also two general types of strapping material. For many years the most common has been in the form a flat steel band made in a variety of widths and thicknesses. These bands or straps are relatively still so that when folded over to engage a portion of a buckle they do not readily pull loose. When the steel straps are used on relatively incompressible packages, a sleeve is positioned over overlapping ends of the strap and the edges of the sleeve and of the strap itself are nicked to provide interlocking portions which hold the strap ends together. More recently, various forms of non-metallic strapping have come into popularity and it is with these that the present invention finds its greatest utility. While non-metallic strapping may be made in different ways and of different materials, one which may be mentioned by way of example only, is a flat band of suitable plastic material or alternately cords of suitable material secured together in a side-by-side manner with an adhesive. In using non-metallic strapping, the industry has been searching for an alternate suitable for strapping containers without the use of any additional tools, such as tensioners, sealers or automatic strapping machines.

With this invention, applicant has developed an improved buckle product which is capable of being used to strap packages without the use of any additional tools and which buckle permits containers provided with strapping and which employs applicants buckle to be retensioned if required (which is of particular value in the case where goods would tend to settle on storage or tend to become loose over a period of time wrapped with strapping).

In accordance with this invention, applicants strap buckle or connector is formed of a single piece of nonflexible material, and has a generally overall rectangular configuration with pairs of strap-engaging arms on opposite ends. The arms of each pair of arms are preferably substantially straight and spaced apart from each other to permit a strip with which the buckle or connector is to be used to be positioned or threaded therebetween. A first arm of each pair of arms includes a. terminal portion having a free end, with the terminal portions of each first arm of each pair of arms facing in the same general direction. An intermediate leg or portion is connected to each first arm of each pair of arms, with each intermediate leg lying on the same general end of the connector. Each intermediate leg as mentioned is connected to each first arm at one end and at the other end, to the second arm of the opposite pair of arms at the other end. Thus, for example, one intermediate leg is connected to the first arm of one pair of arms at one end, and is connected to the second arm of the other pair of arms at its other end. A further intermediate leg, lying on the opposite side of the buckle to the first pair of intermediate legs, joints the second arms of each pair of arms to thereby form an integral unit.

The intermediate legs of applicants buckle or connector are preferably substantially straight runs of material, with one pair of intermediate legs lying in the same general vertical plane. The third intermediate leg is also preferably a straight run of material, located in a parallel spacial relationship to the first two intermediate legs.

The material from which applicants device can be made may vary according to different factors. Typical materials include wire rod, substantially non-flexible plastic materials, etc. Preferably, the material has a substantially circular cross-section. For similar reason, the thickness of the material may vary also, typical thicknesses running from about to inch.

The size of the product may likewise vary depending on the width of the strapping to be used, etc.

As mentioned above, the arms of each respective pair of arms are spaced apart from one another to permit the threading or looping of material therebetween. To this end, the distance to which the respective arms are spaced apart may vary; it is preferred, however, that the arms are spaced apart a distance only suificient to permit the threading of the strapping material in an easy manner.

In a preferred embodiment, the arms of applicants buckle are, like the intermediate legs, desirably substantially straight runs of material. Desirably, the arms of each pair of arms are not quite parallel to each other, as will be seen in the drawings which are hereinafter referred to. This desirable feature is preferably incorporated into applicants structure so that when tension is applied to the arms by strapping, the load placed on the arms by the strapping is in such a direction that the arms become substantially parallel and bear across the whole width of the strapping connected to the arms.

The improved buckle of the present invention may, as mentioned previously, be used for tying strapping material about a box or a container. To this end, the strapping may be used to tie the container by employing the buckle in the following manner; a length of strapping having a leading end is doubled on itself to form a loop. The loop is then passed through the aperture of the buckle defined by the pair of intermediate legs which lie on the same plane on one side and the opposed intermediate leg; and the loop then passed over the free end of one of the pairs of arms-which arm is that in the direction of feeding of the loop through the aperture. Then, the strapping may be wrapped about a container and the desired length of strapping cut with the trailing end of the strapping being folded over itself to form a further loop. This likewise is passed through the abovedefined aperture and the loop is placed over the other free end of the other of said pairs of arms. The trailing end of the strapping may then be tensioned by hand to the desired degree of tension or alternately, a tensioning device such as those known in the art may be employed for this purpose.

Having thus generally described the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, illustrating a preferred buckle and in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the buckle;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the buckle in relation to a package in the course of being strapped; and

FIG. 3 is a series of illustrations showing the buckle in the course of being connected to the ends of a strap.

Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated a buckle according to this invention, which may be made from, for example, a single piece of round wire or alternately, substantially non-flexible plastic material.

The buckle shown in the drawings has a substantially generally rectangular configuration and includes a first pair of strap-engaging arms and 12 which are slightly offset from each other in a vertical direction. A second pair of strap-engaging arms are denoted by the reference numerals 14 and 16again mounted with respect to each other in a slightly offset manner. As explained previously, this preferred feature is incorporated so that when the appropriate arms of the buckle are placed under tension, the strapping causes the arms of each pair of arms to become substantially parallel with the result that the arms bear the whole width of the strap.

For the purposes of this description and for ease of understanding of the buckle, construction arms 10 and 14 may be termed the end arms of each pair of arms, with arms 12 and 16 being spatially located interiorly of arms 10 and 14.

Arm '10 is connected to a substantially horizontal intermediate leg 18, which, in turn, is connected to arm 16.

In turn, the opposite portion of arm 16 is connected to a vertically inclined intermediate leg 20, with the latter being connected to the arm 12.

The buckle of the present invention includes a third substantially horizontal intermediate leg denoted by reference numeral 22 connecting arm 12 with arm 14.

As will be seen from FIG. 1, the intermediate legs 18 and 22 are substantially parallel with one another, there being a gap between the respective intermediate 4 legs 18 and 22 denoted by reference numeral 24. -In th preferred embodiment, intermediate legs 18 and 22 are mounted in substantially parallel planes while intermediate inclined leg 20 extends from one plane to the other.

Arms 10 and 12 are spaced from each other in a vertical direction, as indicated by reference numeral 26, a distance suflicient to permit a strap to be passed therebetween. In a similar manner arms 14 and 16 are spaced from one another, as indicated by reference numeral 28, again the distance sufiicient for a strap to be passed therebetween. It will be noted that arms 14 and 16 are converging in the direction of the free end of arms 14; that arms 10 and 13 are diverging in the direction of the free end of arm 10; that arm 14 makes an angle of slightly less than with intermediate leg 22; that, similarly, arm 16 makes an angle of slightly less than 90 with the second intermediate leg 20; and that arm 10 makes an angle of slightly more than 90 with first intermediate leg 18.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, there is illustrated the manner in which packages, erg. a container, can be wrapped using the novel buckle of the present invention. Reference numeral 30 indicates a continuous length of strapping which may be used in one piece or taken from a roll of material. Initially, one free end of the strapping designated by reference numeral 32 is folded to form a loop indicated generally by reference numeral 33. This loop is passed through the aperture 36 defined by the arms 12 and 16 on the sides, and at the ends, by intermediate legs 18, 22, and 20, where it is then slipped over the arm 14. The strap just mentioned, as shown in FIG. 2, cannot be moved to any extent and forms a secure tie. Then, a strap is placed around the container and a further loop, designated by reference numeral 35, is formed using the free end 34 of strapping 30. This loop 35 is also passed through the aperture 36 and the loop 35 is then slipped over the arm 10. Then, the free end 34 of the strap may be pulled to tension the strap 30 about the container; or alternately, a tensioning device such as that illustrated in FIG. 3 may be employed to accomplish the same purpose. Referring to FIG. 2, it will be noted that the pull exerted by the strapping 30 on the buckle produces an outward force on arms 14 and 16; an outward force on arm 12; and an inward force on arm 10, all of these forces tending to bend the different arms so as to bring them in parallel relationship, when the buckle is seen in top plan view, so that the arms bear across the whole width of the strapping.

It will also be understood that various other methods of wrapping a strap about the buckle of the present invention may be employed as desired and that the above method is not considered to be limiting.

What is claimed is:

'1. A buckle formed of a single piece of wire, said buckle being generally of quadrilateral shape and having first and second pairs of strap-engaging arms on first and second opposite sides thereof, respectively, the first arms of each pair being lying in a substantially common first plane, the second arms of each pair lying also in a substantially common second plane, spaced from the common plane of the first arms, the first arm of the first pair of arms and the second arm of the second pair of arms each constituting a terminal portion of the wire and having their free ends directed towards the same side of the buckle, a first intermediate leg connecting said second arms on said first and second sides of said buckle, 'a second intermediate leg connecting the second arm on said first side of said buckle to said first arm on the second side of said buckle and inclined with respect to said planes, and a third intermediate leg connecting said first arm on said second side of said buckle to said first arm on said first side of said buckle, said first and third intermediate legs being superposed and spaced from each other and lying respectively in said second plane and in said first plane, said second arms on said first and second sides of said buckle being laterally offset from the respective first arms on said first and second sides of said buckle in the same direction when seen in top plan view, said first and second arms on said first side of said buckle converging in the direction of the free end of said first arm on said first side of said buckle, said first and second arms on said second side of said buckle diverging in the direction of the free end of the second arm on said second side of said buckle.

2. A buckle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second arm on said first side of said buckle and said first arm on said second side of said buckle are diverging in the direction of the free ends of the first arm on the first side of said buckle and of the second arm on the second side of the buckle.

3. A buckle as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first arm on said first side of said buckle makes an angle of slightly less than 90 with said third intermediate leg, said second arm on said first side of the buckle makes an angle of slightly less than 90 with said second intermediate leg and said second arm on said second side of the buckle makes an angle of slightly more than 90 with said first intermediate leg, all of said arms and intermediate legs being substantially straight, said first and third intermediate legs having their longitudinal axes in a substantially common plane, the longitudinal axis of said second intermediate leg being substantially parallel to said last-named plane.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,112,543 12/1963 Derrickson 24l6 R X 3,349,444 10/1967 Beach 2416 R UX 3,414,943 12/1968 H-attori 24-16 R X FOREIGN PATENTS 225,945 12/1959 Australia 24-74 I DONALD A. GRIFFIN, Primary Examiner 

